Portable utility case



M y 1952 M. A. SHOLL PORTABLE UTILITY CASE Filed July 11, 1951 ?at'ented May 20, 1 952 UNITED STATES Thisinventionrrelates to atraveling cases. generallyxandmore .particularlyarelates' to. improvements in portable utility cases'of a type adapted to 'be arsed. by gentlemen .for carrying toiletries, razors-end blades, and the: like.

One object of this invention is-toconstruct a portable traveling case whereby often used items can be quickly and easily removed'or inserted without having to open themain portion of the ba'g'where. many contents are ordinarily carried.

.LIc'isaLfurther object of this inventionto provide a portable utility casehaving a substantially :hidden or concealed pouch of smaller dimension than the main carrying portion-of the caseand which is easily accessible; which will not-cause bulging outwardly of the side wallof theutility'caseyand which has its separate entrance opening withselectively closable'means therefor.

1 Other and further objects of' my invention will become apparent from the following description and theappended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and numeralsof reference thereon.

".On the drawing:

Fig. 1" is a perspective view of one embodiment ofmy invention, a portion of'the sidewall being brbkenawayfior the purpose of illustration.

FigJ-Z is a sectional view taken substantially on; the line 22 of Fig. 1 and looking. in the direction of the arrows.

"Referringto the drawings, numeral l0 represents generally *ashell or casing having end walls ll, only-one of which' is shown in- Fig. 1, having flexible'si'de' walls [2, one of which is shown in Fig. 1, having flexible upper-wall extensions l3, and a lower flexible wall or baseygenerally designated-as l4,'as illustrated in-Figm2.

-'Secured to the lower'wall 3 [4 by any suitable means maybe a flexible loop' or handle I5.

The walls I l l2, l3" and I4 are designated generallyj however, each-of said walls comprising plurality 'oflayers or' plies to be "described hereinafter.

Referring to the preferred specific construction of the walls'of' the casing lib-numeral l6 designates an outer flexible panel or'layer which is constructed of leather'or-equivalent pliabl'e and durable material, and which forms the outer-surfaces of the end walls H,- the side walls'l2 and the upper wall extensions l3. A rigidify-ing member or relatively stifi-fabric "is disposed and 'secure'd along thatportion of the" inner surface'of the outer layer- Hi which is included in the sld'e walls l2. "The' said rigidifying fabric and the outer flexiblegpanel or Wall section Hiincombination' provide only a very limited flexibility in the sidewalls [-2. .'Although not illustrated, the rigidifying member-H is not disposed along or adjacent to the inner surface of .the end walls becauseof thegreater degreeof flexibility which is requiredintthe end walls.

The bottom wall or base 14 includes-a lower leather or flexible fabric layer or sheet l8 and a rigidiiying or stiffening sheet-like element 19 which is disposed substantially along the entire inner surfaceofthe lower.layer:l8. 'Along-its peripheral edges the .rigidifying 'member is is reduced preferably :byformation of :a recess as illustrated in the lower portion orFig. '2,;and the end andside walls ilcand I12 along theirlower edges are seated and. secured; inlsaidcontinuous recess. The lower leather: layer. It andithe'rigidifying member l9 are. secured'tto the; side and end walls by a continuous line of stitching; designated as 20. Additionally, the rigidifying .member'il9 may be cemente'dtozthe lowerlayer' lraz-alongatheir adjacent faces.

'As illustrated-infig; 2, theupperzwallsexten- I sions I 3 are spaced apart and aclosuresfastener member generally designated: as 2 l is securedv in the space between the upper JWELH extensions 2 i=3. The closure fastener member comprises a pair of bail elements 22 having their respective end por-- tions-together-'-at 'their:-opposite ends. ":T-her-rbail elements are enclosed I in a; continuous tunnel comprising an outer casing strip "23 :and .a lower or inner casing strip 24, the closure fastener member 21'- is-secured to the upperwall extensions I3'by lines of stitching 2-5 which extend through the upper wall extensions #3 "and the underlying casing strips 23 and 24 is-illustrated"in"Fig.'2. Along their inwardly extending ends thecasing strips 23 and 24' have disposed ther'ebetween'and secured thereto, bylines of stitching designated as 26, the fabric "fianges zlof a conventional slide fastener designated generally as 28.

'As shown at the left QfFigiZ numeral 29 desi natesadepending-flexiblepartition or inner: wall or liner which extendssubstantially'from arpa'th adjacent to the main opening of the casing-Ltd. one longitudinal corner of the casingaridifromzeridto end. Said partition ZSPiS SECUrGd$171135 upper edge to the laterally extendingz'edges :of the'normally upper and lower bail securing "strips 23 and 24ib iines'of stitchingBO. :Along its lower edge the. partition or liningzZS: isrsecuredadjacent to the lateral edges'or periphery of *zan inner stiffening sheet like. element :31,- formed of.:cardboard or the like, by icontinuousftlines of; stitche ing 32. Said liner 29 normally lies disposed substantially adjacent to the side and end walls of the case [0, except that the portion thereof adjacent to the auxiliary pouch is flexed inwardly as illustrated in Fig. 2 when articles are contained in said pouch.

At substantially the juncture of one side wall l2 and its upper wall extension l3, the casing I8 is provided with a longitudinal slot or slit to the defining edges of which there is secured a conventional slide fastener member 33. A bag or pocket 34 is mounted within the casing It) as illustrated in Fig. 2 and is secured along its upper edge tothe outer flexible side wall section I and to the adjacent rigidifying fabric or panel I? and to the fabric flanges of slide fastener member 33 by means of stitching designated as 36.

It is to be appreciated that I have provided a separate or auxiliary pouch or bag within the housing If! and that when one or a number of articles such as illustrated by a can 3'! is placed in the pouch 34, any such inserted articles will not cause the sides of the case to buckle, bulge, or be pushed outwardly beyond the normal general plane or contour of the case, this preventing a disfiguration of the entire case. The inserting of articles into said auxiliary pouch will only flex the inner liner 29 into the chamber defined by the case I9.

My economical and novel building in of the aforesaid auxiliary substantially concealed bag or pouch provides an improved and more consumeracceptable kit or case with the added advantages of permitting the separate storage and quick and easy separate removal of various small personal articles which are thereby maintained out of contact and unmixed from other articles placed into the main and large compartment of the case. Additionally, the small articles, i. e., cosmetics, shaving paste, etc. placed into such auxiliary pocket are prevented from spilling onto and adhering to grooming accessories and other articles in the large chamber of th principal kit.

This construction is also an advantage over previous devices in this art because of the ease and rapidity with which the product can be assembled. Beginning with the outer housing IS the lower base or wall I4 is secured thereto, by continuous stitching. Thereafter the auxiliary pouch 34 and its associated slide fastener member is secured into position as described. Subsequently, the inner casing liner 29 and the fastener member, which has been previously assembled, is inserted, mounted and connected to the case. The advantage in saving of time, labor, and material of this construction will readily be appreciated.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and as many apparently widely different embodiments of my invention within the scope of the claims could be constructed without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a portable utility kit, a case having a substantially flat base and connected side walls and end walls and having upper extensions integral with said side and end walls forming the top of said case; said case having a substantially central opening; a slide fastener mounted along said central opening; said case having a longitudinally extending slot substantially adjacent to one side wall thereof; a slide fastener mounted to selectively close said slot; an auxiliary pouch depending from said side slot and having its upper edges secured to one of said top extensions and to the upper edge of one of said side walls; a rigidifying sheet-like element mounted on said side wall adjacent said pouch; and a flexible partition extending from the intermediate portion of the upper part of said case to the lower corner adjacent the lower part of said pouch, said partition providing an inwardly expandable chamber for said pouch.

2. In a portable kit, an elongated case of substantially flexible material having a longitudinally extending central opening; a slide fastener mounted to selectively close said central opening; a pair of metal reinforcing bails mounted along the intermediate portion of said case and substantially adjacent to the edges defining said central opening; one of said case side walls having a flat rigidifying member secured thereto; said case having a longitudinally extending side opening substantially adjacent to the juncture of one side of said reinforced side wall and the top thereof; a flexible pouch mounted below said side opening and having its upper edges secured about said side opening; and a slide fastener mounted on said case and adapted to selectively open and close said side opening.

3. In a portable kit, an elongated case of substantially flexible material having a longitudinally extending central opening; a slide fastener mounted to selectively close said central opening; a pair of metal reinforcing bails mounted along the intermediate portion of said case and substantially adjacent to the edges defining said central opening; one of said case side walls havin a flat rigidifying member secured thereto; said case having a longitudinally extending side opening substantially adjacent to the juncture of i, one side of said reinforced side wall and the top thereof; a flexible pouch mounted below said side opening and having its upper edges secured about said side opening; and a flexible partition extending from the corner portion of said case below said pouch to points substantially ad,'acent the central opening of said case said partition providing for expansion of said pouch inwardly of said case, said rigidifying member of said side wall preventing distortion of said side Wall.

4. In a portable utility kit, a case having flexible end walls and side Walls, one of said side walls having an upper extension; a substantially fiat base, said side and end walls being connected to said base; rigidifying sheets mounted adjacent said base and adjacent said side walls; said case having a substantially central longitudinal- 1y disposed opening; a releasable slide fastener in said central opening; the upper portion of said case having a longitudinal slot opening proximate to one side wall thereof; a flexible partition extending from substantially the central portion of the upper part of said case to the corner juncture of one side wall and said base; i

and a flexible pocket disposed between said partition and the adjacent side wall and secured at its upper edges to the edge portions of the upper part of said case, said slot opening providing an entrance to said pocket.

5. In a portable utility kit, a case having a substantially flat base and connected side walls and end walls and having upper extensions in-' tegral with said side and end walls forming the top of said case; said case having a substantially central opening; a slide fasmner mounted along said central opening; said case having a longitudinally extending slot substantially adjacent to one side wall thereof; a slide fastener mounted to selectively close said slot; an auxiliary pouch depending from said side slot and having its upper edges secured to one of said top extensions and to the upper edge of one of said side walls; and a flexible partition extending from the intermediate portion of the upper part of said case to the lower corner adjacent the lower part of said pouch, said partition providing an inwardly expandable chamber for said pouch.

6. In a portable utility kit, a case having a substantially flat base and upwardly extending side walls and ends walls connected to said base; said side walls having inwardly extending integral extensions to form a pair of normally adjacent top sections; said top sections and said end Walls having a continuous central opening; a slide fastener mounted to selectively open and close said opening; the edge portions of said top section adjacent said fastener having reinforcing elements; an inner container of flexible material within said case and providing an inner lining, one side Wall portion of said inner lining being normally spaced away from the adjacent side walls of said case; a depending pocket mounted between said spaced portion of said inner lining and a side Wall of said case; said case having a longitudinal slot substantially adjacent its side wall and providing an entrance to said pocket; and a slide fastener mounted about said last mentioned slot for selectively opening and closing same.

MORRIS A. SHOLL.

REFERENEES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,841,154 Rath Jan. 12, 1932 2,087,210 Marbury et al. July 13, 1937 2,164,493 Branen July 4, 1939 2,249,905 Lifton July 22, 1941 2,533,850 Syracuse Dec. 12, 1950 

